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JanFest

The 74th Annual UGA January High School Band Festival: Thursday, January 18 - Saturday, January 20, 2024

Student nomination emails were sent October 23rd.  Email Rob Akridge (rakridge@uga.edu) October 24th if you don't receive the email.
November 17 - student nomination deadline
@December 1 - student acceptances announced
January 5 - cancellation deadline
January 7- video audition submission due
January 16 - payment submission deadline
Participation fee is $95

2024 JanFest Guest Bands:

  • Heritage High School Wind Ensemble - Bill Wynn, Preston Miller, & Colin James, directors
  • Buford High School Wind Ensemble - Erik Mason, Bridget Wildes, & Matt Groves, directors

2024 JanFest Clinicians:

Dr. Steve Davis, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Dr. Nicholas Bratcher, University of Louisiana Monroe
Jana Harvey, Flower Mound High School, Texas
Dr. Jaclyn Hartenberger, University of Georgia
Dr. Adam Dalton, Georgia State University
Dr. Myra Rhoden, Fayette County High School
Beth Taylor, Vidalia High School
Quentin Goins, Stephenson High School

2024 JanFest Information:

2024 JanFest Brochure
2024 JanFest Map
UGA School of Music Map
2024 JanFest Video Submission Instructions
2024 JanFest Guest Band Concert Information
2024 JanFest PAC Fire Code & Safety Policy

2023 JanFest Information:

2023 JanFest Schedule of Events
2023 JanFest Final Information

Yearly JanFest Information:

JanFest information will be mailed to band directors in October of each year. If you are a new director to a school, email us at rakridge@uga.edu before October 1 to be included in the mailout.

"JanFest” (pioneering band invitational established in 1950) is a three-day event for high school band musicians. Students are nominated for participation by their director by way of this website early in the academic year after receiving the JanFest announcement. UGA Bands staff selects students to participate based on the order of the director’s submission, the instrumentation need of the festival bands, and the reported musical achievements of each student. Typical festival attendance is approximately 1000 students from 130 schools.Directors and other adult chaperones accompany students to Athens for the event.

Directors are responsible for housing and food arrangements for their students.

The festival announcement includes a list of hotel properties in close proximity to the festival site.Students are placed in festival bands on the basis of a video audition. These bands rehearse several times before a final performance on the final afternoon of the event. Attendees also enjoy several featured performances by guest high school bands and UGA student ensembles, including the UGA Hodgson Wind Ensemble.We’re looking forward to seeing you next winter at JanFest!

For more information regarding JanFest or to update contact information, email Director of Band Festivals Rob Akridge.